New Window Shutters Sport Solar Panels

Whether it’s well made, functional and cost-effective, that’s all up for grabs, as it is for all garage-hatched new products. But the logic behind the PV Solar Shutter is hard to dispute: Shutter-covered windows can occupy a big part of a house’s surface area, so why not turn them into solar panels to produce power?

Plug ’n Save Energy Products is the outfit behind this fascinating invention, which was on display at the West Coast Green show in San Francisco recently. The shutters are bamboo on the inside — “adds richness and beauty to any room,” according to the company website — while on the outside, small photovoltaic (PV) panels gather sunlight and produce power. A grid-tied inverter allows you to simply plug the shutter into a wall outlet and feed power back into your house.

image via Plug ’n Save Energy Products

“We wanted to create an easy way for people to produce their own power and a viable, small step entry into personal power production” inventor Dan Curran said in a press release. “The PV Solar Shutter combines the energy efficient properties of a shutter with the ability to produce power – all in a beautiful, eco-friendly package.”

No word on how much power the shutters produce, nor on their cost or availability, but the San Diego-based company says the shutters are all custom-made to fit and with an outline of your needs, will whip up a quote.

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